| Selection of a hip resurfacing surgeon is a personal | | | | I feel if a person has a more difficult hip problem |
| choice. It is a choice that makes you feel confident | | | | such as advanced AVN, cysts, misaligned hips or an |
| that your surgery will go well, that your surgeon has | | | | unusual physical problem they were born with, they |
| a good bedside manner and that you can ask | | | | need a very experienced surgeon. If you are an older |
| questions anytime you need answers. | | | | female or even male, many surgeons will suggest a |
| When buying real estate the old saying about what is | | | | THR instead of a BHR. The more experienced |
| important is "Location, Location and location." In many | | | | doctors are more willing to tackle more difficult hip |
| people's minds the most important factor in choosing | | | | resurfacing problems. |
| a surgeon for hip resurfacing is "Experience, | | | | I have personally read thousands of emails from hip |
| Experience and Experience." I realize that every hip | | | | resurfacing patients on the Yahoo Surface Hippy |
| resurfacing surgeon has to start somewhere to do | | | | Discussion Group. My personal observation of post-op |
| his first operation, but I feel that hip resurfacing is as | | | | results indicate that the patients of the much more |
| much of an art as it is a learned skill. The angle of the | | | | experienced surgeons usually have a quicker and |
| cap on the femur bone is very important, the proper | | | | easier recovery. There are always exceptions due to |
| amount of pounding to place the stem in place is | | | | prior medical condition of a patients hip or muscles, |
| important, how much cement is applied to the cap is | | | | but anyone can take time and read thru the |
| important, shaping the femur bone for the cap is | | | | thousands of emails on the discussion group and see |
| important, how the surgeon approaches the surgery | | | | how patients recover after their surgeries. |
| itself is important. There are many, many factors | | | | To sum up the question of "How to Select a |
| involved in a successful hip resurfacing operation. | | | | Surgeon," choose a doctor that you feel comfortable |
| There have been studies done to determine the | | | | with and ask the doctor: |
| learning curve for surgeons performing Hip | | | | - How many hip resurfacings has he/she done |
| Resurfacing with the BHR. These studies and others | | | | - How many femur neck fractures have they had |
| indicate that a surgeon needs 50 to 100 or more hip | | | | - How many infections have the had |
| resurfacing operations to become experienced. I | | | | - How many of the hip resurfacing operations have |
| have personally been told by a very experienced | | | | required a revision to a THR |
| doctor that a surgeon should do at least 100 hip | | | | - When they trained to learn hip resurfacing |
| resurfacings before a patient decides to use them. | | | | - Who did they train with |
| There is a large amount of debate over this number | | | | - What is the chance of them changing their mind |
| and subject. Many people feel that a surgeon is | | | | during the hip resurfacing operation to do a THR |
| already experienced if he has been performing THR's | | | | instead Some of the newer doctors are not as |
| for many years. Hip Resurfacing, however, is a much | | | | comfortable with hip resurfacing and will revert back |
| more demanding and technical surgery than a THR. | | | | to a THR if they encounter problems. A THR is an |
| I personally feel that experience can only be learned, | | | | easier operation than a hip resurfacing. Make sure |
| it can not be taught. Many professional sportsmen | | | | your doctor is a true advocate of hip resurfacing. |
| have learned the technical skills to play the game, but | | | | Some of the new doctors have told me that they |
| you generally see the most experienced | | | | only use hip resurfacing in special situations and still |
| quarterbacks, pitchers, or goalies playing in the pros. | | | | prefer doing a THR in most cases. The very |
| The difference is the experience. These people learn | | | | experienced hip resurfacing doctors will always give a |
| almost instinctively what to do, they don't take time | | | | person a hip resurfacing if possible, some have even |
| to reason and figure out what to do. That is the kind | | | | changed their mind during a THR and ended up giving |
| of surgeon I want to do my hip resurfacing, a | | | | a patient a hip resurfacing. |
| surgeon that has seen it all and done it all. | | | | Learn as much as you can about hip resurfacing and |
| Unfortunately a surgeon that has only done 10 or 50 | | | | doctors that do hip resurfacing. Ask questions and |
| hip resurfacings has not seen it all or done it all. My | | | | opinions from doctors and other people, then trust |
| personal surgeon, Dr. De Smet, even told me that he | | | | your own instincts and make up your own mind. It is |
| still has very difficult surgeries at times and he has | | | | your hip and your life. |
| done over 2000 hip resurfacings. | | | | |